"Water, Water (isn't) Everywhere: But is it Safe to Drink?"

A Short Course by Dr. Joseph Cotruvo

Overview: Water is necessary for all life and is also essential for economic progress. Demand for water continues to increase, especially as the world population has passed 8 billion, but the total world supply has been constant for millions of years. This 4-day course will address virtually all things water and will describe issues, progress and strategies for providing safe water throughout the world, including Toledo. The information presented is aimed for a broad audience, including teachers, university students, water providers and the general public.

Specific topics include:

Water sources quantity and quality
Water chemistry, including public chlorination chemistry and home treatment
Public health concerns
Regulation of water quality, including federal, state and local responsibilities
Connections between water quality and public health, including risk assessment
Comparisons between public drinking water, bottled water and home treated water
Causes of worldwide water shortages
Approaches to produce more water to prevent shortages
Publicized drinking water case studies, including Flint and lead (what really happened), Chromium VI (Erin Brockovich story), Perfluorochemicals (PFAS), Fluoride and fluoridation, Toledo's algal bloom and algal toxin events, water chlorination and waterborne disease including water realted Legionellosis.

REGISTER HERE

Deadline to register: June 6, 2025

Where:
The University of Toledo, Main Campus
Bowman-Oddy, Room 2059

When:
June 16-18, 2025

Cost:
Attendee: $100
Student Attendee: $50

Parking:
Permit Required. Request upon registration at $5.95/day (need license plate, days and owner name). Parking is available adjacent to Bowman-Oddy in Lots 12 and 13.

Course offered by:
The Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry and the Dr. Nina McClelland Laboratory for Water Chemistry and Environmental Analysis at the University of Toledo.

Schedule:

Mon.-Wed., June 16-18
Morning session: 8:30 a.m.-noon
Afternoon session: 1-4:30 p.m.

Breaks with refreshments will be provided during each session. Participants are responsible for their own lunch.

Continuing Education Credit:

Two (2) continuing education credits possible upon completion of the complete 20 hours of instruction.

Instructor Bio:
Joseph Cotruvo is a Toledo native with a B.S. in Chemistry from UToledo and a Ph.D. in Physical Organic Chemistry from Ohio State University. He spent 25 years at USEPA in Washington principally as first Director of EPA’s Drinking Water Standards Division and as Director of EPA’s Risk Assessment Division in the Toxic Substances program. Since his retirement from the EPA, Joe works as an international consultant on water, environment and public health, and is a member of the World Health Organization’s Drinking Water Guidelines Committee. He also served 8 years on the Board of Directors of the Washington, DC, Water and Sewage Authority. He was named the Outstanding Alumnus in the UToledo College of Arts and Sciences in 2009 and is currently an Adjunct Research Professor in the UToledo Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry.